Labor leaders considering whom to support as successor

Organized labor has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with U.S. Rep. John M. McHugh. The congressman was generally supportive of unions' priority legislation, while they collectively were his top source of campaign money.

With Mr. McHugh's expected departure, labor leaders are evaluating which of his three potential successors to throw their support behind: Conservative nominee Douglas L. Hoffman, Lake Placid; Democratic nominee William L. Owens, Plattsburgh, or Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava, Gouverneur.

Groups such as the state AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union Local 1199 represent tens of thousands of workers across the district. Their endorsements can help make an unknown candidate into a favorite, or a favorite into a lock.

Labor's influence was evident in the special 20th Congressional District election this spring. The political action arm of SEIU, which represents hospital workers, janitors and other public service workers, spent more on now-Rep. M. Scott Murphy than the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did. The group is credited with helping Mr. Murphy, a political neophyte, win the seat over the more politically seasoned Republican James N. Tedisco.

Kevin Finnegan, the union's political director, told PolitickerNY.com recently that his group is leaning toward supporting Mr. Owens in the expected 23rd race. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The Democratic nominee doesn't have clear sailing to the remainder of the labor endorsements, however.

Ms. Scozzafava is considered to have strong ties to labor. She's been endorsed by several groups in her previous Assembly campaigns, including the state Public Employees Federation, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, United Steelworkers, Civil Service Employees Association and New York State United Teachers. Her husband, Ronald P. McDougall, is the president of the Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Central Trades and Labor Council.

Mario Cilento, a spokesman for the state AFL-CIO, said his group endorses only if two-thirds or more of its executive board agrees on a single candidate. Board members represent 2.5 million employees enrolled in 3,000 local unions statewide.

"It's going to be very difficult for any of the candidates to reach that threshold at this point," he said Monday. "I can't tell you what happens in the future."